Monday Morning Memo June 22, 2009
Partnership Matters
The Tampa Downtown Partnership will host its 23rd Annual Meeting & Luncheon at the Tampa Convention Center was a great success. Mayor Pam Iorio, Mr. Daniel Biederman, a nationally recognized expert in downtown management, design and public space, gave encouraging addresses to the crowd of 300. Incoming chairman, Mr. Keith Greminger of Gensler, took the reins from Mr. Chuck Davis of MetLife Real Estate Investments. Read the story about Mr. Greminger that appeared in the Tampa Bay Business Journal by clicking here.
The 2009-2010 Executive Committee for the Tampa Downtown Partnership is as follows: CHAIRMAN Keith G. Greminger Gensler CHAIR-ELECT William A. Gillen, Jr. Shook, Hardy & Bacon,
P.A.
TREASURER B. Terry Aidman Cherry, Bekaert & Holland SECRETARY
Gregory Minder Intowngroup
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Charles C. Davis, Jr. MetLife PRESIDENT Christine M. Burdick Tampa Downtown Partnership Stephanie Agliano
TECO Energy Mechanik Nuccio Hearne & Wester, P.A. David M. Mechanik Duncan Broyd
HOK, Inc. Splitsville / Stumps Supper Club / J. Guy Revelle Howl at the Moon / Tinatapas Randy Coen
Coen & Company Cushman & Wakefield of Florida, Inc. Larry D. Richey Mark M. Huey
City of Tampa Ronald L. Vaughn, Ph.D. The University of Tampa Mickey Jacob
Urban Studio Architects, Inc. Fowler White Boggs Banker, P.A. Andrea E. Zelman
Opportunities
Downtown merchants, restaurants, cultural & entertainment venues, mark your calendar to attend the next quarterly downtown retail meeting scheduled for June 30th. The Partnership holds these meetings as an opportunity for downtown retail businesses to gain helpful information about issues affecting downtown. It is also an opportunity to share ideas with one another and Partnership staff. This meeting will have representatives from UCAP, to explain more about the extensive underground pipe work that will be taking place around downtown for the next year. You don’t want to miss this meeting. It is June 30th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at TECO Hall (702 N. Franklin
Street). There is no fee to attend the meeting, but RSVPs are required! Who is a downtown merchant? If your business is located in the Channel District, Central
Business District or near the University of Tampa, you are a downtown business. To reserve your seat, click here.
Local Spending = Local Jobs. That’s the message that is being communicated by the organizers of Backyard Economics, a program designed by the State of Florida to promote local business. The Tampa Downtown Partnership encourages downtown restaurants, merchants, service providers and entertainment venues to take advantage of this opportunity. Click here for the flyer promoting the Web site of Backyard Economics and sign up your special offer today!
Did you know that over 100,000 passengers use Tampa Union Station each year? After a major restoration in 1998, it needs your help. Built in 1912 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this designated Landmark is in need of an endowment fund to help care for and maintain it. Please visit www.tampaunionstation.com to make your tax-deductible donation and learn more about the history of this local gem.
The Partnership has teamed up with the Friends of the Riverwalk and the city’s Riverwalk project director, Lee Hoffman, to gather thoughts on how best to develop the downtown waterfront area. Boaters in particular are encouraged to attend an input session today, June 22 from 5:30 – 7pm. Please RSVP to Karen Kress at (813) 221-3686 for more information.
If you’d like to learn more about how your County government works, then register now for the 2009 Government Leadership University (GLU). The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and its Office of Neighborhood Relations is announcing the free program begins August 4 and runs through October 6. County residents can apply now until July 24 by 5 p.m. to attend the next GLU session. Classes will be held every Tuesday from 9 a.m. - Noon at various locations, including several at County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. Participants will go on field trips to a number of departments including Animal Services, Code Enforcement, Communications, Hillsborough Television, Emergency Management, Fire Rescue, Public Works, Sheriff’s Office, Solid Waste Management, Supervisor of Elections and Water Resource Services. The Government Leadership University is an interactive program designed to give participants an insight into the operations of many government departments. The goal of the GLU is to have better informed citizens who can bring their specialized knowledge of how County government works back to their respective neighborhoods. County officials, department heads and managers, along with other County staff will host the seminars. Citizens from all segments of the community are encouraged to apply. For more information or an application, call the Office of Neighborhood Relations at (813) 272-5860, or log onto www.hillsboroughcounty.org/onr, scroll down to Upcoming Events, and then click on Government Leadership University Application. The deadline to apply is July 24.
The Tampa City Council of the City of Tampa is seeking volunteers to serve on the Equal Business Opportunity Advisory Council (EBOAC) to fill seven positions to be appointed by Tampa City Council. The notice provides all related information including application submission deadlines and the date for the 3-minute presentation to be made to City Council.
Friday (6/26) is National HIV Testing Day. The Hillsborough County Health Department will be offering free confidential tests. For details, click here.
Looking for a new job? How about a new career? Come on out to the employment event of the season, the Tampa Bay Job and Career Fair on Monday, July 20 from 10 am – 3 pm at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. Meet with local companies who have immediate employment needs from entry level positions to skilled trade, to health care and even top managerial positions, there is something for everyone at the Tampa Bay Job and Career Fair. This year’s event will also include a Career Fair. Several of the area's top schools for continuing education, local universities and vocational/technical institutes will be on hand. It is a great opportunity to look at ways to further develop your skills for the jobs of today and review the bright career prospects of tomorrow. Expand your skill set or even learn a whole new career. Come prepared, bring a few resumes and get ready to say “Hello.” You could be to work by the end of the day. Or even on your way to a whole new career.
Studies and Reviews
It is Tampa Bay & Company’s first priority to promote Economic Development through Tourism. In an effort to create enhanced awareness of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry to the region, Tampa Bay & Company is proud to present the following video, “Tourism Matters.” Keep an eye out for some of Tampa’s Downtown Guides in the video, especially at the very end.
Commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis released its Florida Market Prospective for 2009. To view the entire report, click here.
Seeing is Believing
Downtown restaurants continue to grow and change! Here is some news on what’s happening at two places:
• For those who remember the CC Bagels on Franklin Street, there is a new name. It is now Susan’s Café & Deli. The new venue has broadened its menu and now includes great offerings such as hamburgers, turkey club sandwiches and deviled crabs. YUM! See the entire menu by clicking here. • Speaking of a new menu, Pizzaiolo Bravaro, also on Franklin Street, has
been the talk of several positive food critic stories. The restaurant has expanded their menu to offer new items such as lasagna, cannelloni and spaghetti. See what they have to offer by clicking here.
So, you’ve read for several weeks in Monday Morning Memo that Tampa Girl videos show you all the cool things taking place in downtown Tampa, but you still don’t know what it is all about. Now you can view a video that shows you the cool places Tampa Girl has visited in downtown. Click here to view the video.
Downtown adds yet another retailer! City Bike Tampa has opened on Cass Street. This is downtown’s first bicycle rental, repair and sales store. The St. Petersburg Times recently visited City Bike Tampa. Read what they found out by clicking here.
The City of Tampa is currently reviewing bids received for on-street parking meters that accept credit cards and coins. The downtown parking advisory committee continues to work closely with the parking department on improvements such as this. To be part of the discussion, contact Karen Kress.
Calling all downtown hospitality employees! The Downtown Tampa Attractions Association will hold its Ambassador Training Program - a phenomenal education program that teaches community members about the wide array of attractions that are right at our fingertips – on July 8th. The free, all day, tour includes stops such as Busch
Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa Theatre, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Hyde Park Village, the Interim Tampa Museum of Art, the new Tampa Bay History Center, The Florida Aquarium, the American Victory Ship, the Yacht Starship dining cruises and much more. Come enjoy this full day of Tampa's favorite sights and sounds. The next tour will be held Wednesday, July 8th; sign up today, but hurry because spots fill up quickly! To sign up now or for additional information, email tapintotourism@gmail.com. The Florida Department of Transportation is upgrading its 511 system by replacing the regional systems with a single bilingual statewide 511. This means you have access to real-time traffic information about anywhere in Florida from anywhere in Florida - in English or Spanish. Simply go to www.FL511.com and click on the My Florida 511 link to sign up. Within minutes, you'll be ready to have real-time traffic alerts delivered to you on your schedule. While you're on the site, explore the other great traffic and travel resources from FDOT, including live streaming traffic cameras, commuter travel times and more.
Talk about Backyard Economics---with temperatures on the rise and everyone a bit less likely to go out in the heat, the Tampa Downtown Partnership has created a summertime program with some cool savings! Launching July 1st is the
“Summertime Savings Card.” The discount card program is a simple “show the card and save” program. When it launches on July 1st users will be able to receive amazing
discounts at 61 downtown venues! Stay tuned to Monday Morning Memo for details about where you can pick up a FREE card and brochure.
Doing research on Tampa Bay and don’t know where to turn? Now you have a resource in downtown Tampa that can help you get all the facts. The Tampa Bay History Center has teamed up with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System to open the Currie B. and Lavinia Sparkman Witt Research Center at the History Center. Find out what this new downtown addition will offer by clicking here.
The Partnership will hold three community meetings to discuss the 2010 Work Plan and Budget for the Special Services District. Downtown stakeholders, including property owners, merchants, and residents, are encouraged to attend one of the meetings and provide feedback on initiatives for the district. The meetings are free to attend and do not require an RSVP. The meeting dates are as follows:
• Tuesday, July 14, 7:30 a.m. at Seaport Channelside, 1120 E. Twiggs St. • Thursday. July 23, 5:30 p.m. at TECO Hall, 702 N. Franklin St.
InTown Tampa offers Downtowners a closer look at topics that are impacting Tampa's urban core. Here are the items in this issue:
• Riverwalk Changing Downtown Tampa • “MetroRapid” Buses Promise Speedy Service • Chairman Davis Passes The Gavel On • Vision & Action Plan Coming to Life Creative Urban Core
Tampa Bay TECH Jam is returning to downtown Tampa on August 6th. Don’t wait until just before the event to secure your ticket to this unique event. Plan now and get your ticket. Find out more about this great event by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Film Commission is reporting that the University of Tampa’s Film Media Arts and MBA College of Business students traveled to the Cannes Film Festival in France, on a trip led by Professor Tom Garrett. UT students worked together in internships in and around the festival, the Marched du Film (film market) and American Pavilion, with students from other premiere film schools from around the nation. The trip was so successful last year that it has since become a regular part of the film major curriculum. This trip is just one example of the opportunities afforded to UT’s Film and Media Arts majors. Students are working on independent movies being filmed locally and regionally, bagging internships at large movie companies like Lionsgate Films and HBO, and getting to meet top notch filmmakers like Christine Vachon and Mike Ryan. Learn more about UT's film program by clicking here.
Downtown Happenings
Looking for a ticket to some fun this summer? Then downtown’s Channel District has got you covered! From July 4th fireworks to great discounts at downtown venues,
click here for a list of things you will want to take advantage of during the summer months!
Speaking of downtown 4th of July fun…check out what the SS American Victory Ship
has planned! For details, click here.
Cirque du Soleil returns to downtown Tampa Thursday (6/25) through July 5th at the St. Pete Times Forum with one of its signature shows, Saltimbanco. Saltimbanco, performed for the first time in Florida this year, remains as relevant and powerful today as it was when it first debuted in 1992. From the Italian “saltare in banco,” which means “to jump on a bench,” Saltimbanco explores the urban experience. The high intensity acrobatic spectacle takes place in an imaginary city where diversity is cause for hope. The set reflects the contradictions of a city, where the powerful and dispossessed live side-by-side. This is a city inhabited by eclectic, eccentric populations; a place where anything is possible. Saltimbanco tickets can be purchased online at www.cirquedusoleil.com or by calling (813) 287-8844.
Looking ahead…the Tampa Museum of Art Foundation will be the benefactor of the upcoming TMA Contractors Fishing Tournament. This event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15th with the Angler’s Party. The actual tournament is Friday, July 17th.
Find out more about how you can participate or become a sponsor by clicking here. In and Around InTown
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